Customizable ring

ABSTRACT

A ring is configured to allow the wearer or other individual to quickly and easily customize its appearance. A ring can include a securing mechanism to allow one of possibly many attachments to be selectively coupled to the ring. Each attachment can include a design or ornamentation. Accordingly, by selecting a particular attachment, the individual can customize the appearance of the ring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

N/A

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a ring that is configured to allow the wearer or other individual to quickly and easily customize its appearance. A ring can include a securing mechanism to allow one of possibly many attachments to be selectively coupled to the ring. Each attachment can include a design or ornamentation. Accordingly, by selecting a particular attachment, the individual can customize the appearance of the ring.

In one embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a customizable ring that includes: an annular portion having a protruding region, the protruding region forming an opening; one or more attachments, each attachment having a top surface and a coupling structure positioned under the top surface, the coupling structure being configured to insert into the opening formed in the protruding region; and a securing mechanism that is configured to retain the coupling structure within the opening.

In another embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a customizable ring that includes: an annular portion having a protruding region, the protruding region forming an opening; one or more attachments, each attachment having a top surface and a coupling structure that is configured to insert into the opening formed in the protruding region; and a securing mechanism that is configured to retain the coupling structure within the opening, the securing mechanism comprising one of: an insert that slides within a channel formed in the annular portion and protruding region; retaining structures that protrude inwardly into the opening; or a locking mechanism that inserts into the opening opposite the coupling structure.

In another embodiment, the present invention is implemented as a customizable ring that includes: an annular portion having a protruding region, the protruding region forming an opening; one or more attachments, each attachment having a top surface and a coupling structure that is configured to insert into the opening formed in the protruding region; and a securing mechanism that, in conjunction with the coupling structure, provides a locked position in which the attachment is secured to the annular portion and an unlocked position in which the attachment can be removed from the annular portion

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a customizable ring with the ring being in assembled form;

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective exploded view of the ring of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate a top view and side view respectively of the annular portion of the ring of FIG. 1 with the insert removed;

FIG. 1D illustrates another perspective exploded view of the ring of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a customizable ring with the ring being in assembled form;

FIG. 2A illustrates a front perspective exploded view of the ring of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B illustrates a top perspective exploded view of the ring of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2C illustrates the annular portion and an attachment of the ring of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2D illustrates a bottom perspective view of an attachment of the ring of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of a customizable ring with the ring being in assembled form;

FIG. 3A illustrates a top perspective exploded view of the ring of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3B illustrates a bottom perspective exploded view of the ring of FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 3C and 3D illustrate how an attachment can be secured to the annular portion of the ring of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A customizable ring in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes an annular portion that may typically be formed of a metal such as stainless steel, silver, gold, titanium, tungsten, etc., but could be formed of any rigid material. The annular portion of the customizable ring can be in any size appropriate for the intended wearer. The customizable ring can include a securing mechanism that is formed at a top of the annular portion. In this context, the top of the annular portion should be construed as the portion that would normally be oriented on top of the finger when the customizable ring is worn.

The present invention encompasses various types of securing mechanisms as will be described below. The present invention also encompasses a corresponding type of attachment for each type of securing mechanism. As an overview, the securing mechanism is configured to receive the corresponding type of attachment and temporarily couple it to the annular portion of the ring. Because the attachments are only temporarily coupled, the appearance of the ring can be quickly customized by selecting an attachment with a desired appearance and coupling it to the ring. As a result, an individual desiring more than one ring design need only obtain a single annular portion (which may oftentimes be a more expensive component of a ring) and attachments (which may be less expensive components) with the desired designs.

FIGS. 1-1D illustrate a first embodiment of a customizable ring 100. Ring 100 includes an annular portion 110, a securing mechanism comprised of a sliding insert 120 that inserts into a channel 111 formed through annular portion 110, and an attachment (or attachments) 130. To accommodate channel 111, annular portion 110 includes a protruding region 112. As best seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, channel 111 has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape and is open on both sides of the ring. A top surface of protruding region 112 is generally flat and includes opening 112 a that forms a passageway to channel 111.

Insert 120 also has a generally rectangular shape and length that correspond with the shape and length of channel 111. Insert 120 includes a first end 120 a and a second end 120 b opposite first end 120 a. First and second ends 120 a, 120 b can be contoured to match the contour of annular portion 110 and protruding region 112 around channel 111. Therefore, when insert 120 is inserted into channel 111, a generally continuous outer surface will be formed as is shown in FIG. 1.

Attachment 130 includes a top surface 130 a and a sidewall 130 b that extends downwardly around top surface 130 a. Sidewall 130 b can be contoured to provide a transition to the surrounding annular portion 110 when attachment 130 is coupled thereto. To enable coupling attachment 130 to annular portion 110, attachment 130 includes a coupling structure 131 that is positioned under and extends downwardly from top surface 130 a. In the depicted embodiment, coupling structure 131 consists of two opposing posts 132 and a horizontal member 133 that extends between posts 132 to thereby form an opening 131 a above horizontal member 133 and an opening 131 b below horizontal member 133. Therefore, coupling structure 131 has an H-shape with opening 131 a being formed at the appropriate height as will be described below. The length of posts 132 (i.e., the distance between the bottom of posts 132 and top surface 130 a) can be configured such that posts 132 rest on the bottom wall of channel 111 when attachment 130 is inserted into opening 112 a.

As is best shown in FIG. 1C, insert 120 includes a channel 121 having an opening 121 a at the top of insert 120. Opening 121 a is sized to allow horizontal member 133 to be inserted through it. More particularly, when attachment 130 is separated from annular portion 110, insert 120 can be free to slide back and forth within channel 111. This back and forth sliding can be limited by including a pin (or screw) 140 in protruding region 112 and a corresponding pin slot 122 in insert 120. The length and position of pin slot 122 can be configured so that, when fully inserted into channel 111, first side 120 a (and therefore second side 120 b) will align with the outer surface of annular portion 111, and so that, when retracted from channel 111, opening 121 a will align with opening 112 a.

When insert 120 is in the retracted position, attachment 130 can be freely coupled to or decoupled from annular portion 110 by simply sliding coupling structure 131 out from or into opening 112 a. When attachment 130 is inserted into opening 112 a, horizontal member 133 will be positioned within channel 121 with the bottom portion of insert 120 being positioned within opening 131 b. Insert 120 further includes a tab 123 that protrudes into channel 121 thereby forming a pocket 124 under tab 123. Pocket 124 allows insert 120 to be slid fully into channel 111 while coupling structure 131 is positioned in channel 111. More specifically, as insert 120 is slid into channel 111, horizontal member 133 will insert into pocket 124. Tab 123 can be configured and positioned such that it will apply a downward force on horizontal member 133 when insert 120 is slid into channel 111. This downward force will secure attachment 130 to annular portion 110 and will also prevent insert 120 from being inadvertently retracted from channel 111. In some embodiments, a leading edge 123 a of tab 123 can be chamfered to facilitate inserting horizontal member 133 into pocket 124.

As can be seen, an attachment 130 can be secured to annular portion 110 by simply sliding insert 120 into the partially retracted position (i.e., to the point that pin 140 blocks further sliding), inserting attachment 130 through opening 112 a, and sliding insert 120 back into channel 111 (i.e., to the point that pin 140 blocks further sliding). The interaction between horizontal member 133 and tab 123 will securely couple attachment 130 to annular portion 110. Then, when it is desired to remove and/or replace attachment 130 (e.g., to use an attachment with a different design), insert 120 can be slid back out from channel 111 to allow attachment 130 to be removed.

FIGS. 2-2D illustrate another embodiment of a customizable ring 200. The general structure of ring 200 (e.g., annular portion 210, protruding region 212 and attachment 230) is the same as ring 100, but ring 200 employs a different securing mechanism for coupling attachment 230 to annular portion 210. As shown in FIG. 2A, protruding portion 212 forms an opening 212 a in which a spring (or other biasing structure) 220 and a retainer plate 221 are housed. Spring 220 sits under retaining plate 221 such that movement of retaining plate 221 into opening 212 a compresses spring 220. A screw (or similar structure) 222 can insert through an opening 221 a in retaining plate 221 and into a retaining (e.g., threaded) structure 216 (see FIG. 2B) at the bottom of opening 212 a to thereby maintain retaining plate 221 and spring 220 within opening 212 a. Opening 221 a in retaining plate 221 can be configured to allow retaining plate 221 to slide up and down along screw 222. Alternatively, retaining structure 216 could be configured to allow screw 222 to be moved up and down relative to protruding region 212.

Protruding region 212 includes a number of retaining structures 215 that protrude inwardly into opening 212 a thereby creating a gap 215 a between each adjacent pair of retaining structures 215. Retaining plate 221 can include a number of protrusions 221 b that are shaped and sized to align with and sit within gaps 215 a.

The height of each retaining structure 215 is less than the depth of opening 212 a such that a stepped ridge is formed on the bottom of each retaining structure as best shown in FIG. 2C. This stepped ridge includes a downward facing surface 250, an inward facing surface 251 and an outward facing surface 252.

As shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, attachment 230 includes a coupling structure 231 that is positioned under and extends downwardly from top surface 230 a. Coupling structure 231 comprises a number of hooking features 235 that are spaced around a central opening 236 such that hooking features 235 can be aligned with retaining structures 215 when attachment 230 is inserted into opening 212 a. In particular, each hooking feature 235 can be configured with an upward facing surface 260, a hooking surface 261 and a stopping surface 262 which together form a general J-shape (which could be inverted along with retaining structures 215 in some embodiments).

Although not shown in FIG. 2C, when attachment 230 is decoupled from annular portion 210, spring 220 will force retaining plate 221 upward against the bottom of screw 222. In some embodiments, screw 222 can be configured such that the top surface of retaining plate 221 will align with the top surface of protruding region 212 in this decoupled state. To couple a desired attachment 230 to annular portion 210, coupling structure 231 of attachment 230 can be inserted into opening 212 a by aligning hooking features 235 with gaps 215 a and forcing retaining plate 221 downwardly until hooking surface 261 is below downward facing surface 250. At this point, attachment 230 can be twisted (which in this case would be clockwise when looking down on attachment 230) until outward facing surface 252 contacts stopping surface 262. The width of downward facing surface 250 can be configured to correspond with the width of upward facing surface 260 such that hooking surface 261 will be clear of inward facing surface 251 before or when outward facing surface 252 contacts stopping surface 262. Due to spring 222, once hooking surface 261 is clear of inward facing surface 251, attachment 230 will be moved upwardly until upward facing surface 260 contacts downward facing surface 250. In other words, once upward facing surface 260 is rotated to be in alignment with downward facing surface 250, spring 222 will cause attachment 230 to be locked in place. Because of hooking surface 261, it will not be possible to rotate attachment 230 in a reverse direction without pushing down on attachment 230.

In some embodiments, surfaces 250-252 can be configured to correspond closely with surfaces 260-262 such that retaining structure 215 will sit snuggly within the J-shaped hooking feature 235. This will cause attachment 230 to feel solidly coupled to annular portion 210. Although the figures illustrate an embodiment that includes four sets of retaining structures and hooking features, ring 200 could alternatively be configured with two or more such sets.

FIGS. 3-3D illustrate another embodiment of a customizable ring 300. As with ring 200, the general structure of ring 300 (e.g., annular portion 310, protruding region 312 and attachment 330) is the same as ring 100, but ring 300 employs a different securing mechanism for coupling attachment 330 to annular portion 310. At a general level, the securing mechanism of ring 300 functions in the same manner as the securing mechanism of ring 200 but ring 300 employs a separate rotatable locking mechanism 320 to couple attachment 330 to annular portion 310.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, protruding region 312 forms an opening 312 a that passes completely through annular portion 310. This allows locking mechanism 320 to be inserted upwardly through opening 312 a. Locking mechanism 320 is retained within opening 312 a by a retaining plate 340 and screw 350. In particular, retaining plate 340 can include prongs 343 that sit within notches 313 formed around opening 312 a. Locking mechanism 320 can include a retaining structure 323 such that when locking mechanism 320 is positioned within opening 312 a, screw 350 can be inserted through an opening 342 in retaining plate 340 and into retaining structure 323 to couple locking mechanism 320 to annular portion 310 while allowing locking mechanism 320 to be rotated within opening 312 a. As is shown in FIG. 3B, a channel 314 can be formed along the underside of annular portion 310 around a portion of opening 312 a. Locking mechanism 320 can include a tab 322 that inserts into channel 314 and contacts opposing ends of channel 314 to limit the rotation of locking mechanism 320 within opening 312 a. In the depicted design, channel 314 can be configured to allow locking mechanism 320 to be rotated 90° within opening 312 a. In some embodiments, the bottom surface of locking mechanism 320 can include a slot 324 for receiving a screwdriver or other tool to facilitate rotating locking mechanism 320.

As is best shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the upper portion of locking mechanism 320 includes opposing protrusions 321 that have a downward facing ramped surface 325 that function similar to threads of a screw. Retaining plate 340 includes opposing channels 341. Protrusions 321 are configured and positioned so as to not overlap with channels 341 when locking mechanism 320 is in the unlocked position shown in FIG. 3C. In this unlocked position, a coupling structure consisting of prongs 331, which extend downwardly from top surface 330 a of attachment 330, will be able to insert through channels 341. Prongs 331 include inward projecting ledges 332 that will sit below ramped surfaces 325 when prongs 331 are inserted through channels 341. Then, to secure attachment 330 to annular portion 310, locking mechanism 320 can be rotated (e.g., 90° in a clockwise direction) to cause ramped surfaces 325 to be forced overtop ledges 332 as shown in FIG. 3D. Ramped surfaces 325 will cause a downward force to be applied to ledges 332 thereby securing attachment 330 snuggly to annular portion 310. As mentioned above, slot 324 can facilitate rotating locking mechanism 320 with a screwdriver or similar tool. Channel 314 and tab 322 can be configured so that locking mechanism 320 is only allowed to rotate between the unlocked and locked positions shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D.

In summary, each of the above described embodiments allows an attachment to be quickly and easily coupled to or decoupled from a ring. In each embodiment, the attachments can be designed to provide a desired appearance thereby enabling an individual to easily customize a ring. In some embodiments, the attachments can be made of a solderable metal so that an individual can attach many different types of design components (e.g., gems, beads, logos, pictures, etc.) to the top surface and then use such attachments to customize the appearance of a ring.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. 

What is claimed:
 1. A customizable ring comprising: an annular portion having a protruding region, the protruding region forming an opening; one or more attachments, each attachment having a top surface and a coupling structure positioned under the top surface, the coupling structure being configured to insert into the opening formed in the protruding region; and a securing mechanism that is configured to retain the coupling structure within the opening.
 2. The customizable ring of claim 1, wherein each attachment also includes a sidewall that extends downwardly from and around the top surface, the coupling structure being contained within the sidewall.
 3. The customizable ring of claim 1, further comprising: a channel formed within the annular portion and the protruding region, the opening being connected to the channel such that the coupling structure inserts into the channel; and wherein the securing mechanism comprises an insert that is configured to slide within the channel while the coupling structure is positioned in the channel, the insert sliding between a locked position in which the insert secures the attachment to the annular portion and an unlocked position in which the insert enables the attachment to be removed from the opening.
 4. The customizable ring of claim 3, wherein the coupling structure includes a horizontal member and the insert includes a channel within which the horizontal member is contained.
 5. The customizable ring of claim 4, wherein the insert includes a tab that extends into the channel of the insert thereby forming a pocket under the tab, and wherein, in the locked position, the horizontal member is positioned within the pocket and below the tab.
 6. The customizable ring of claim 3, wherein the protruding region includes a pin that extends downwardly into the channel, and the insert includes a pin slot into which the pin inserts to define how far the insert can slide within the channel.
 7. The customizable ring of claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a plurality of retaining structures that protrude inwardly into the opening, and the coupling structure comprises a corresponding plurality of hooking features.
 8. The customizable ring of claim 7, wherein each retaining structure includes a downward facing surface, an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface while each hooking feature includes an upward facing surface, a hooking surface and a stopping surface.
 9. The customizable ring of claim 8, further comprising: a spring positioned within the opening, the spring applying an upward force on the attachment to retain engagement between the coupling structures and the retaining structures.
 10. The customizable ring of claim 9, further comprising: a retaining plate that is secured within the opening over the spring.
 11. The customizable ring of claim 9, wherein the hooking features interlock with the retaining structures as the attachment is rotated relative to the annular portion.
 12. The customizable ring of claim 11, wherein the spring applies an upward force that interlocks the hooking features with the retaining structures.
 13. The customizable ring of claim 1, wherein the opening extends completely through the annular portion, the securing mechanism comprising a locking mechanism that is contained within the opening.
 14. The customizable ring of claim 13, further comprising: a retaining plate that is positioned over the opening above the locking mechanism, the retaining plate securing the locking mechanism within the opening but allowing the locking mechanism to be rotated within the opening.
 15. The customizable ring of claim 14, wherein the retaining plate includes opposing channels, the coupling structure comprising opposing prongs that insert through the opposing channels.
 16. The customizable ring of claim 15, wherein each prong includes an inwardly projecting ledge, the locking mechanism including opposing protrusions that are rotated overtop the inwardly projecting ledges when the locking mechanism is rotated from an unlocked to a locked position.
 17. The customizable ring of claim 16, wherein each protrusion includes a ramped surface that applies an increasing force against the corresponding ledge as the locking mechanism is rotated.
 18. The customizable ring of claim 16, wherein the annular portion forms a channel around a portion of the opening, the locking mechanism including a tab that inserts into the channel to thereby limit the rotation of the locking mechanism.
 19. A customizable ring comprising: an annular portion having a protruding region, the protruding region forming an opening; one or more attachments, each attachment having a top surface and a coupling structure that is configured to insert into the opening formed in the protruding region; and a securing mechanism that is configured to retain the coupling structure within the opening, the securing mechanism comprising one of: an insert that slides within a channel formed in the annular portion and protruding region; retaining structures that protrude inwardly into the opening; or a locking mechanism that inserts into the opening opposite the coupling structure.
 20. A customizable ring comprising: an annular portion having a protruding region, the protruding region forming an opening; one or more attachments, each attachment having a top surface and a coupling structure that is configured to insert into the opening formed in the protruding region; and a securing mechanism that, in conjunction with the coupling structure, provides a locked position in which the attachment is secured to the annular portion and an unlocked position in which the attachment can be removed from the annular portion. 